Robert Zemeckis: Denzel Washington deserves Oscar

'Flight' filmmaker Robert Zemeckis is ecstatic Denzel Washington has been nominated for a Best Actor gong at the Academy Awards and thinks his performance merits the nomination

Robert Zemeckis thinks Denzel Washington is a "magnificent" actor.

The 'Flight' director is thrilled the 58-year-old star is up against the likes of Daniel Day Lewis for an Oscar in the Best Actor category and believes his performance in the drama about an alcoholic pilot's struggle for redemption is well worth the nomination.

Speaking at the UK premiere of 'Flight' in London's Leceister Square on Thursday night (17.01.13), Robert told BANG Showbiz: "He's magnificent, he's always a joy to work with you don't know what you're going to get but its always perfect. I think he should win! It's great!"

Jack Rapke and Steve Starkey, the film's producers, added: "He should win because it's simply a great performance. It's like, 'Did you see what he did with his lip? Did you see what he just did with his eye?' So we get to see it every day and that's the great thing for us. "

'Forrest Gump' filmmaker Robert thought the film was a fitting choice to make his first return to live action in over a decade, having chosen to concentrate on animated tales like 'The Polar Express' in recent years.

He said: "It's a very harrowing story about a man who's made a lot of changes in his life. It's got everything you might want - drama, action, comedy, suspense. I love it, live actions great."

The director was rumoured to be planning a reboot of psychedelic Beatles movie 'Yellow Submarine' and confirmed the project is still in the pipeline.

Robert added: "We've got a wonderful screenplay, we just need to see if we can get it off the ground. It could definitely happen. It has to wait!

"I'm one of those guys who always take a break in between films, look around, see what I want to do."

Denzel Washington and Kelly Riley joined Robert on the star-studded red carpet.